Schools rescind almost all teacher layoff notices

SAN MARCOS 
The San Marcos Unified School District has rescinded most of the layoff notices that were issued to 49 probationary teachers in March.

This week, the district revised its proposed classroom ratios for the upcoming school year after updating its budget projections, said Len Judd, assistant superintendent of human resources.

The size of a projected deficit was reduced substantially after officials factored in federal stimulus funding, additional flexibility for how San Marcos can use some state money and cost reductions.

In March, district officials had proposed increasing first-and second-grade classroom sizes from 20 to 30 students in response to the state's fiscal crisis. It is now proposing class sizes of 24 students in those grades, which will restore teaching positions, Judd said.

That meant the district was able to rescind 37 more layoff notices, bringing the total to 45. Four secondary social sciences teachers still are under notice that they could be laid off in the fall, Judd said, but the hope is to rescind those as well.

Some cuts are still in place, however. They include eliminating the cost of two sheriff's deputies who work on high school campuses, saving about $255,000. The city of San Marcos has agreed to pay for one deputy, which will free up that money for use by the district, Judd said.

Other cuts include a 10 percent reduction of funding for high school athletics, $80,000; salaries for 2.5 elementary school principal positions, $300,000; not filling an instructional services director position next year, saving $100,000; and eliminating three physical education teachers whose salaries, totaling $180,000, were paid by grants.

In addition, Superintendent Kevin Holt and his three assistant superintendents have agreed to take furlough days next school year, saving the district about $22,000. Holt will take 13 furlough days, and the assistant superintendents will each take eight furlough days.

The district's latest projected deficit, after taking into account increases in revenue and reductions in expenses, is now about $3 million. It had been about $9.4 million.

School board President Sharon Jenkins said the district's finances are still in flux as it waits to find out exactly how much funding it will receive from state and federal sources.

She also said the district is trying to negotiate salaries and work days with its two employee unions for the next school year. “We're hoping for successful negotiations so that not one employee would have to lose his or her job,” she said.